Kadena pilot named Outstanding American by Choice

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  One of Kadena's own was recently named an Outstanding American by Choice by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for his dedicated service in the military. 

Capt. Van Thai, 18th Operations Support Squadron current operations flight commander and mobility instructor pilot, was one of 10 service members recognized at a ceremony Sept. 24 at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Md. 

The award is given to naturalized citizens who showed a commitment to the United States through professional achievement, civic participation and responsible citizenship.
Dr. Emilio Gonzalez, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director, presented the award to the service members. Dr. Gonzalez served in the Army for 26 years and is also a naturalized citizen. 

"This country has given so much to us [naturalized citizens] and we feel it's our obligation to give back by serving and protecting this country," said Captain Thai.
Captain Thai and his family emigrated from Vietnam in 1983 and settled in Oklahoma City, Okla., where he attended elementary school, high school and college. He became a naturalized citizen in 1990. 

Captain Thai graduated in the top 25 percent of his class at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1998. From there, he was selected to study national security issues and French in the Air Force Institute of Technology program at the University of Colorado. 

As an undergraduate pilot training student, Captain Thai earned the "Hard Charger" as well as the "Flight Commander's" awards. 

He was then assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron here in 2000 and deployed in Nov. 2001 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

"Captain Thai was apparently a hard worker early in his life as he obtained a very competitive appointment to the Air Force Academy," said Col. Doug Carney, 18th Operations Group deputy commander. "He has done fantastic work here at Kadena, consistently rated as number one among his peers." 

The captain is also an active member of the community, serving as the "nerve center" chairman for the Kadena Special Olympics committee in 2006 and 2007. He volunteered his time to help teach English to local students as well as Japan Air Self Defense Force members deploying in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. 

"I joined the Air Force primarily to serve my country, but also for the travel and education benefits," said Captain Thai. 

He earned his master's degree in economics and is currently working on his second master's degree in international relations. Captain Thai completed the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and is working on his Air Command and Staff College course by correspondence. 

"Captain Thai truly deserves this recognition," said Colonel Carney.